New Port Richey Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Delivering life-changing benefits to injured workers
A little over a hundred years ago, industrial work was so dangerous that one President compared the hazards these workers faced with the hazards soldiers face during wartime. His comments, along with several workplace disasters, prompted Florida and other states to create workers’ compensation systems.
These systems allow injured workers to bypass the burdensome civil claims process and obtain compensation for their economic losses without proving fault or negligence.
Over the years, a combination of insurance company influences, and declining premium levels, has pushed Florida’s workers’ comp system to the limit. A New Port Richey workers’ compensation lawyer, such as Joseph Rooth, works to ensure that injured victims get a fair shake in a system that’s often stacked against them.
Benefits Available
Most injured victims receive two-thirds of their average weekly wage for the duration of their temporary or permanent disabilities. These benefits also include payment of all reasonably necessary medical bills.
The AWW includes more than regular cash compensation. It also includes irregular and non-cash compensation, such as missed performance bonuses and 401(k) reimbursement. Furthermore, contrary to what insurance company adjusters believe, “reasonably necessary” does not mean the same thing as “cheapest available.”
Eligibility
Workers who sustain job-related illnesses or injuries in New Port Richey, Tarpon Springs, Clearwater, and elsewhere in Florida are usually eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if their injury or illness was substantially work-related.
Trauma injury cases, such as falls, often trigger limited defenses, such as horseplay or UI (under the influence). Workers’ compensation does not pay benefits if the injury occurred during horseplay that was completely unrelated to the job. Furthermore, victims who were under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time of injury may be ineligible for benefits.
Illness claims, such as toxic exposure claims, must be substantially work-related. If a pre-existing or non-work medical condition contributes to the risk and/or severity of illness, a Clearwater workers’ compensation lawyer can obtain full benefits in these matters.
Workers’ Comp FAQs
How does workers' comp work in Florida?
Workers’ compensation is no-fault insurance that replaces lost wages and pays medical bills. The process is sometimes long. Most claims are denied at an initial Claims Examiner evaluation. Therefore, a Tarpon Springs workers’ compensation lawyer usually appeals the decision to an administrative law judge. An ALJ hearing is like a trial in most respects.
How much does workers' comp pay in Florida?
Most job injury victims receive two-thirds of their average weekly wage for the duration of their temporary or permanent disabilities. Doctors often try to rush victims back to work, so a lawyer usually partners with an independent doctor in these cases. To determine a fair amount of future lost income in permanent disability matters, a New Port Richey workers’ compensation lawyer often partners with accountants and other outside professionals.
How does a workers' comp settlement work in Florida?
Workers’ comp settlements benefit victims in many ways. For example, settlements are final resolutions. Instead of tying up judgments in appeals courts, when insurance companies settle cases, they write checks. However, beware of quick settlements in workers’ comp and other injury matters. Early settlements often do not fully reflect future medical expenses. In these cases, the victims are financially responsible for these costs.
Contact a Diligent Pasco County Lawyer
Victims need and deserve compensation for their serious injuries. For a confidential consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in New Port Richey, contact the Rooth Law Firm. Mr. Rooth is a Board-Certified attorney in workers' compensation law by the Florida Bar Association, a distinction that fewer than one percent of all Florida lawyers have.